8 May 1945 VE Day Letter

A change to the theme today to reflect the 70th anniversary of VE Day today.

I have fast forwarded 5 years and published the letter Frank sent home on VE Day 1945 from near Bologna, Italy.  Although unrelated to the Battle of France it is such a moving letter that I have psoted it on the blog.  The releif that soon he may be returning home is palpable after 6 years in the Army.  He eventually returned home in 1946.  I hope you enjoy this letter.

V E DAY

My Dear Edie,

I will be writing again shortly to answer your letters, two of which arrived yesterday.

This, being THE DAY for which we've waited so long and means so much that it is difficult to express in words I felt you would like to know, by my writing, that I'm thinking of you all and home and peace.  It has all happened so quickly that none of us fully realise that we have well and truly and deservedly WON this war.

Perhaps Mr Churchill's speech at 3pm today will bring it home to us.  After the speech there will be a short service which I shall go to, and no doubt many others who are poor church goers will be only too pleased to go to it.

We shall not be able to celebrate VE Day in any lavish style, situatd as we are now in fields far from any gaity or life.  But we have a piano which will help liven things up, and a good pianist to play.  We acquired this wretched instrument where we were billeted prior to the attack, and managed to take it with us when we moved.   Then we found it was impossible to continue humping it around with the frequent moving, and finally asked a farmhouse to take care of it for us.  Yesterday a truck went out to buy vino for celebrating and called in at the farm and found the old joanna carefully covered up and awaiting collection.

So, we have a piano, some vino, and will have a bonfire after dark (I like this "no black out business!) around which we can sit and drink and sing.  But I feel this is not the greatest day of celebration for the men in the Forces away from home, or for their wives or families at home.  When we are reunited, that will be the day to celebrate and not until then, when we've thrown off our uniform will it seem like the end of the war.

I have no more idea than you when I shall come home.  Daresay it will be a few months yet; at least that is what I am trying to get myself resigned to.

I was very sorry to hear that Anne was ill; from your remarks I expect she will be out and about now, and the worst part will be over.  Tell her I bought soem small pretty thing for her when I was in Bologna the other day.  I will post it unless by some lucky chance I can bring it myself soon.

Am in the best of health and hope you are, too.

Fondest love to all,

Frank